INDIANAPOLIS - Although the IUPUI women's soccer team's offense continued its struggles, the defense came up with its best effort of the year in a 0-0 double overtime tie with Detroit at Kuntz Stadium on Tuesday night. The shutout was the fourth of sophomore goalkeeper's Jamie Farrel's career.
"We got the shutout so we're happy about that, but we still need to but the ball in the back of the net," IUPUI head coach Chris Johnson said.
Farrell was rarely tested as the Jaguars outshot Detroit by a 20-9 margin, including 7-6 on net. The blanking was even more impressive, given that IUPUI was playing with a different back four on Tuesday.
Senior Lisa Gebhard moved from her center back spot to the midfield and freshman Kelly Williams slid from outside to center back.
"The back four did a real nice job for their first time out together," Johnson said. "And Lisa makes us a little more dangerous in the midfield and gives us a little more speed."
The first half proved to be highly uneventful as both teams managed just one shot on goal. Farrell easily engulfed a Megan Canty breakaway attempt in the 36th minute while Detroit's Katie Fortenberry made an easy stop on an Angie Pilat rolling attempt in the 38th minute.
IUPUI's best chance of the first half came in the 24th minute when Fortenberry was called for an illegal touch, giving the Jags a free kick from just inside the 18-yard box. Sophomore Katrina McCrory'sdrive laced off a teammate along the defensive wall and never made it to net.
The Jags (1-7-2) came out a little more aggressively in the second half, getting early tries from Pilat, Gebhard and freshman Amanda Snyder while the defense remained solid.
Detroit (3-6-2) closed regulation with a quick flurry in while Farrell stopped Selena Stanski's initial try and Kristen Mannino's rebound attempt was cleared off the line by an IUPUI defender.
IUPUI outshot Detroit 6-2 in the two overtime periods, although most were non-threatening attempts from distance.
"I thought we had two or three good chances tonight," Johnson said. "We had good possession in their end of the field in the first half, but just not a lot of good shots.
"Tonight can be a confidence builder though. We need to react to tonight as a positive and not a negative. We played right with a good team - now we just need to get over the hump."
IUPUI hits the road this weekend for a pair of Summit League matches. On Friday, the Jaguars will take on North Dakota State before traveling to South Dakota State on Sunday.
